Apparatus for controlling friction-clutches.



A. R. HULTIN.

APPARAIUS FOR CONTROLLING FRICTION CLUTCHES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. I914.

1,163,541. Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

'IIIIIIII'IIIII WITNESSES! MENTOR BY M f M {A L ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH B. HULTIN, OF PROSPEB, OREGON.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FRICTION-CLUTCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

Application filed May 29, 1914. Serial No. 841,951.

' more particularly to an apparatus in which a non-expansive fluid medium, such as oil is utilized directly against a piston connected to the movable clutch member, and is operated by an expansive fluid such as steam.

The object of my invention is to provide certain improvements with respect to the controlling means and the fluid connections thereof, whereby the application and release of the clutch may be controlled and whereby certain other advantages, to be hereinafter particularly pointed out, may be obtained.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my improvements Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly broken away and in section, illustrating my mprovements, Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the steam cylinder taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a similar view taken through the liquid cylinder substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to these figures, I have shown a drum at A, utilized for instance in connection with all donkey and hoisting engines, and movable on its shaft A into engagement with a friction block B by which it is clutched in engagement with the shaft, the shaft being provided with a transversely extending movable key B upon the relatively opposite side of the drum A, and which is carried by the piston rod 0 of a piston C. This piston C is movable in a fluid cylinder C to cause movement of the key B toward and away from the drum A, its former movement resulting in forcing the drum against the friction block B and into clutched position, and its latter movement permitting release of the drum from the friction block.

Into the outer end of the application cylinder C leads the outer end of the liquid pipe D, the inner end of which is led into either end of a transverse channel e adjacent the head end of the liquid cylinder E, the opposite end of which channel 6 is closed by means of a plug 6. The liquid piston E is connected by a piston rod F to the fluid piston G, which piston passes through an abutment F between which and the fluid piston G is compressed a spring F hearing at one end against the piston G and at its opposite end against the said abutment. The fluid piston G is of substantially greater diameter than that of the liquid piston E" and is movable within the fluid cylinder G which is integral and axially alined with the liquid cylinder. Thus when. through the supply of steam within the cylinder G, the

liquid piston is moved toward the head end of its cylinder E, fluid is forced through the pipe D and into the application cylinder C. It will be noted that the pipe D has a regulating valve D at an intermediate point and a cut-off valve D adjacent the liquid cylinr der E, and that it is further providedwitli an air chamber D whereby to give the desired elasticit off valve D is closed in order to hold the to the liquid when the cut-.

pressure in the applicationcylinder C and furnish an expansible agentfor this purpose,

in case of slight leaks. Furthermore, in,

order to permit the emergency release of, pressure in the application cylinder; C, I. provide a supplemental pip eiHfithe ends of. which are connected to the rate points to form a .by pass, thisfsupplemental pipe or by-passH having a ch e ck valve H which opens away frointhe appli cation cylinder C and also.havingaail'egilk Ordinarily the pressure lating valve H flows out of the application cylinder fslowly upon the rearward movement of tliie lilquid.

piston E, but with the v alye well as the valve D the pressure may speedily reduced through the check H, Thus supposing e u k we be partly closed, the'operatorwishing' to r l- 1 tain the same in adjusted position may,'1at

the time of opening the cut-ofi', yg'ilve D open bypass valve H in order 'to quickly release the clutch, the release of wliicli".will

be comparatively slow throughthe partlv closed valve D.

ice

The steam cylinder G is supplied through a supply pipe J and under control of a three-way valve K, the pipe J entering one end of a transverse channel 9 which communicates with the steam cylinder adjacent its head end and the other end of which channel'is closed by a plug g. A branch pipe L also leads from the supply pipe J and into the head end of the steam cylinder v clutched G and is provided with a check valve L opening toward the steam cylinder. Thus spaces are formed in the ends of the cylinders E and G beyond their respective channels e and 9 so as to form cushions to prevent the pistons E and G from destructive engagement with the cylinder heads. When the piston G has encountered the cushion by its passage beyond its channel 9, steam may be supplied to the cylinder 'G by proper manipulation of the three-way valve K, the steam passin into the cylinder through the branch pipe L and its check valve L until the pistonhas been moved forwardly beyond its channel. When the steam is so supplied and the piston G moved forwardlythe spring F 2 is compressed and forward movement imparted to the liquid piston E which force the liquid through the pipe D under proper control, as before mentioned, to the application cylinder C, the piston C of which is then moved forwardly in order to move the drum A to clutched position. When the three-way valve K is turned to out off the steam pressure the spring F causes rearward movement of the pistons and the pressure is released, this release ordinaril taking effect slowly and evenly through t e proper control by valve D with valve H closed. As stated before, however, a speedy release in emer ency is effected by opening valves D and 2 to the full extent. The liquid cylinder E has an upper opening 0 which is normally closed by a screw plug E and through which the cylinder may be filled.

Thus a controlling device constructed as shown and described ma be attached for operation in connection with practically any donkey or hoisting engine now in use and will permit of movement of the drum to osition without sudden shocks or danger o breakage due to the fact that a non-expansive medium is utilized and the fact that both the liquid and the fluid may be 1properly controlled at all times.

claim:

1. In a controlli device of the character described, the combination of a pair of axially alined cylinders, one of which is of greater diameter than the other, pistons arranged in the said cylinders, a piston rod connecting the pistons whereby to effect their simultaneous movement, means for supplying fluid to the larger cylinder to move the pistons in one direction, a spring for moving the pistons in the opposite direction, an appllcation cylinder, a piston movable therein and havin connection with the parts to be controlled, liquid connections between said application cylinder and the smaller cylinder of the two cylinders first mentioned, controlling and cut-ofi valves within said liquid connections, an air chamber also within said connections whereb to hold the li uid pressure within the application cylin er when the cut-off valve is closed, and a by-pass formed in said connections and having a cut-off valve and a check valve opening away from the application cylinder, all for the purpose described.

2. In a controlling device of the character described, the combination of a liquid cylinder, a piston therein, means for moving the piston in relatively opposite directions, an application cylinder, a piston movable in the application cylinder and having communication with the parts to be controlled, and liquid connection leading from said liquid cylinder to said application cylinder, havin an air chamber and a regulating and cut-o valve therein and provided with avalved by-pass the ends of which are connected thereto upon opposite sides of the regulating valves, all for the purpose described.

3. In a controlling device of the character described, the combination of a liquid cylinder, a piston therein, means for moving the piston in relatively opposite directions,

a fluid pipe leading from the said cylinder,

an application cylinder to which the said fluid pipe also leads, a piston in said application cylinder havin connection with the parts to be controlle ,regulating and cutoil valves in the connecting pipe, an air chamber also within the connecting pipe to hold the liquid pressure within the application cylinder when the cut-ofi valve is closed, and a supplemental pipe communicatin at its ends with the connecting pipe at points therein upon opposite sides of the said regulating valve and provided with a cut-01f valve and with a check valve opening away from the application cylinder, all for the purpose described.

ADOLPH R. HULTIN. 

